Tell Harper To Stop Commercial Seal Hunt In Canada

Canada is about to do more than the government-sanctioned slaughter of 400,000 baby seals. But Prime Minister Harper is aggressively pushing products from this cruelty -- even to countries that have banned seal products.

Tell Harper stop spreading this image of Canada and to end the commercial seal hunt »

There is no economic, scientific, or ethical argument that can support the shooting, clubbing, and skinning of defenseless seal pups. People around the world have the right to refuse these cruel and unethical products. Prime Minister Stephen Harper needs to know he can't push seal products on countries that don't want them.

PETA Ad - Who Is In Your Plate?

PETA Ad With Kellan Lutz - Adopt, Don't Buy

Help Gorillas From Getting Extinct

Illegal hunting, mining, agriculture, infectious diseases and even warfare threaten these gentle giants. International conservation efforts have been life-saving to these special animals, but sadly, funding for these programs is on the chopping block.

Federal lawmakers are planning to cut U.S. foreign aid for biodiversity in 2012. These cuts would especially harm endangered gorillas in areas of conflict, such as the Republic of Congo, and would slash funding that aids some of the world's most endangered species, such as rhinoceroses, great apes, elephants, tigers and sea turtles. Don't let these animals be victims of bad political decisions: Tell members of Congress to stand up for gorillas and other endangered creatures!

Please Take Action Here!

Knut - Berlin's Star Polar Bear Is Dead

Knut with his zoo keeper Thomas Doerflein

Knut with his zoo keeper Thomas Doerflein

Knut with his zoo keeper Thomas Doerflein

Knut with his zoo keeper Thomas Doerflein

Little Knut

Knut the poser was a favorite of the media and Zoo

A grown up Knut

Knut, the famous polar bear of the Berlin Zoo is died yesterday. He became an international star when his mother abandoned him and he was raised by his Berlin zoo keeper.

Knut was only four years old and the cause of his death has not been revealed. He was the first bear to be born in captivity in the zoo for 30 years. The first time media saw him was in 2007 and he became a major attraction for media and animal lovers.

He became a star over night when an animal activist said he should have been put down after he and his brother (who died later) were rejected by their mother following their birth in December, 2006. He was so popular that he ended up generating millions of dollars for the Berlin Zoo.

Thomas Doerflein took care of little Knut from the beginning when he bottle fed him and played Elvis Presley's songs for him. Thomas died of a heart attack in 2008. Knut was kept with his mother - Tosca and two other females - Nancy and Katjuscha later on.

He never really had any romantic relationships with them. In fact, there were cases of violent maulings when Katjuscha once tried to bite him.

Anyhow, Knut was rather young to have died. He seemed very cute in all his pics! I wish I could have seen him live. The Berlin Zoo will miss him dearly looking at the way they took care of him, he seemed like a real favorite.

HSI Updates On Japanese Relief Works

This is just a news update from HSI (Humane Society International) about the efforts that are already taking place to help the animals in Japan in these sad and troubled times. Although, human safety is absolutely necessary but the animals are a key priority too, which is many organizations are putting in efforts to keep them safe as well. Here is the update from HSI:

HSI disaster response team is in the Philippines and has reached out to key Japanese partner organizations to offer both immediate and long-term assistance of all kinds, including:

- Expertise and funding for rescue efforts

- Animal-related needs assessment to identify where and how best to provide emergency support and veterinary attention;

- Coordination to purchase and transport essential supplies;

- Establishment of shelters and supply depots in or near the strike zone.

Once the radiation hazards of the situation in Japan have been determined, HSI will consider direct deployment of staff members. In the meantime, they are fully committed to supporting those Japanese citizens and organizations on the ground working to help animals.

Let us pray for our Japanese friends that they remain safe and recover from this tragedy soon enough just like they always do!

In case anyone wants to help in monetary terms, HSI has set aside funds to support direct response and ongoing expenses of animal rescue and animal care in Japan and welcome donations to their International Disaster Fund.

Earn Your Wings - Don't Wear Fur

Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary

Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary is run by Joel and Chemaine Almquist in Phelan, CA. This couple started this task many years ago when they started keeping wild cats in the backyard and took care of them. Later on they ended up with this wonderful sanctuary.

At this Sanctuary there are no adoptions. The big cats have found a home forever. Some come from the entertainment industry, some came because their owners no longer could afford to keep a big wild cat and some have been rescued from abusive situations.

Of the cat family, the couple looks after servals, lynxes, bobcats, tigers, mountain lions, black leopards and one regal African lioness. They have 26 wild cats in their sanctuary.

It's always nice to see people who go out of the way to take care of animals like this couple. With these efforts they have helped many big cats who were in danger of being put down as well. People can support this couple by contributing for the animals and can visit this sanctuary themselves also.

Adorable Puppies

Amber Chin in PETA Ad - Keep Wild Animals Free

The Story Of 2 Legged Lamb

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In August 2010, a very cute two legged lamb was born in China. The lamb was to be chopped because of his two legs but when the sheep farmer Cui Jinxiu the lamb's determination to live, she dropped the idea. 

Cui said that she was so impressed to see the two legged lamb when he got up and went to his mother to drink milk. Cui hand reared the lamb from that day. Cui is very close to this particular lamb and takes great care of him. She couldn't slaughter the lamb because they are quite attached to each other now.

Cui says that the lamb is quick and follows her everywhere. He is extremely friendly and doesn't even feel that he has a disability.

Though I read in other stories that the doctors felt that the lamb might not survive for long because of his disability. Or as he would grow old he might face difficulties. However, it is quite possible that he would go on living a happy life. Many animals with such disabilities survive.

This little lamb story is quite positive. It shows there is hope for all of us. Many people may feel they are the two legged lambs but they may do just fine.

Amazing Animal Friendships

Can't humans be like them???Even the most amazing hunters have a strange affection and warmth within them and don't kill the weaker animals that cross their path.

Barbie Hsu in PETA Ad

Save Wild Horses From Inhumane Round Ups

We have written about this before also that BLM is hurting wild horses through inhumane round ups that ends up injuring many beautiful horses badly. Some even die in the process after getting badly hurt.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to mismanage the care of wild horses and burros. The agency’s current policies allow inhumane methods of gathering and confining equines, and could spell the end for these national icons. But there's still an opportunity to help save our wild horses. U.S. Representative Dan Burton of Indiana has succeeded in passing an amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill to cut $2 million from the BLM's annual budget in order to pressure the agency to end its ill-conceived efforts. 

This amendment was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives and will soon be considered in the Senate. Please let your two U.S. senators know that they should support the Burton amendment to cut $2 million dollars from the BLM's budget—this cut saves money and our country's wild horses. 

Please ask your U.S. senators to support a $2 million reduction in the BLM’s budget and help protect wild horses! Only US residents can sign up and send these letters so please take action soon.


Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center online to email your senators now.

Reema Adopts Baby Gazelles

Well this is the first time I am hearing such news about one of our celebrities that involves animals and animal care. Till now we heard mostly of the peacocks and tigers related to Sharif family or saw a few fake pictures of Musharraf with his little dogs.In fact, I read in his very unimpressive book about his dogs that he didn't think having a small breed as your pet dog would make one less macho or masculine. And others I have seen are mostly breed conscious people who just aim to impress others around them. Mostly the animals have better personalities than the owners.

Anyway, this is a bit different. Reema - our Pakistani actress who is now the Zoo Ambassador recently visited the Lahore Zoo and fell in love with two baby gazelles (Indian Gazelle fawns) and decided to adopt them immediately. According to the adoption programme offered by the Lahore Zoo, anyone can adopt an animal they are interested in and are then responsible for its upbringing. You have to pay annually and the animal's entire responsibility and expenses is on the person who has adopted the animal. 

Reema was never associated with animal care before but said she always loved animals but could never do anything practically to help them. Well her good spirits are positively taken. I am glad I read about it because if one listens to Reema - she would say the same thing in at least 30 minutes. She loves to talk endlessly. I think the  Lahore Zoo is much better than Karachi's Zoo and hopefully they would take better care of the animals than our zoo here and the money raised through this programme would be honestly used on the animals only.

Oscar - The Giant Cat

I am sure most of you must have already seen Oscar, who is one the biggest cats around. But he is so adorable it is a treat to watch him again and again. He loves to sleep. His favorite food is chicken and prawns.

Though I doubt if Oscar is the biggest cat in the world. 

In Russia, there was a cat named Katy who weighed 20 kg and was Guinness Record Holder for years. But it was reported Katy's owner no longer wished to get nominations for Katy because they don't want to promote over feeding of pets in anyway. 

So, be careful. Don't feed your cats unnecessarily and make sure they play regularly for a healthy life.

PETA Ad - Say No To Fur

Good News-The Signed Petitions Paid Off

We have been signing petitions for so long. Some of the signatures we sent had a positive response. Here is the report:

1-800 Flowers Company:

The largest florist in the world, 1-800-Flowers, responded to 54,000 members and agreed to begin selling Fair Trade flowers and insist on a strong code of conduct for all their suppliers to counteract the deplorable working conditions that thousands of female flower workers face in South America. They’ve promised to offer Fair Trade flowers in time for Mother's Day.

Fire In Bangladesh In Clothing Factory:

After a devastating clothing factory fire in Bangladesh took the lives of 27 workers, we asked seven clothing companies, including Abercrombie, the Gap, and Target to compensate the victims' families and revamp safety standards in their affiliated factories.After 65,000 signatures all seven companies met our demands. 

Dogs Playing The Piano

Check out these poodles when they are playing the piano. One of them is definitely more exciting about the music class while the other is just walking here and there. I love the page turn immensely. Cute video!

Tips To Protect Your Pet Birds From Kitchen Hazards

Bird guardians need to be aware that the kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house for these special pets. Birds are highly sensitive to a variety of fumes, including aerosol sprays, smoke and cooking gas. Even heated cookware—all kinds, coated and non-stick—can emit toxins that are harmless and undetectable to us, but can kill a pet bird within minutes.

“Birds are more sensitive to respiratory irritants than other animals because of differences in their respiratory systems,” explains Dr. Camille DeClementi of the ASPCA. “The use of non-stick pans around birds is particularly dangerous, because when these pans are exposed to excessive heat they release toxic fumes. To keep birds safe, pet parents should always remove them from the kitchen while cooking and should be very careful to avoid overheating non-stick pans.”

Here are a few useful tips:

1 Always keep your pet bird out of the kitchen while cooking.

Many veterinarians urge pet owners to keep their birds in a room other than the kitchen.

2. Never pre-heat your cookware on high heat.

The fact is,any type of cookware pre-heated with cooking oils, fats, margarine or butter can harm your bird.

3. Never leave your bird and heated cookware unattended.

Sadly, fatalities can result when birds and cooking pots or pans are left together in the kitchen unattended—even for just a few minutes. Cooking fumes from any type of overheated cookware―not just non-stick―can damage a bird’s lungs with alarming speed. And if your bird is out of his cage, he might come too close to the hot burner.

4. Always turn the exhaust fan on or open a window before cooking.

It is important to make sure that your kitchen is properly ventilated. In addition to cooking fumes, birds are highly sensitive to a variety of other fumes, such as aerosol sprays, non-stick sprays, spray starch, perfumes, smoke, self-cleaning ovens and cooking gas.

5. Store toxic items out of your bird’s reach.

These include all cleaners, pesticides, mothballs and both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Some cleaning agents may cause mild stomach upset, but others can cause severe burns to a bird’s tongue, mouth and crop.

6. Keep your bird away from food and beverage items that could be dangerous. These items include:

- avocados - onions

- garlic

- chocolate in any form

- coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate-covered espresso beans)

- tea

- yeast dough

- salt

- tomato leaves and stems (green parts)

- potato leaves and stems (green parts)

- rhubarb leaves

- cigarettes and other tobacco products

- moldy or spoiled foods

- alcoholic beverages

7. Keep your bird away from kitchen appliances.

If a bird is allowed to fly free or accidentally escapes, the following kitchen appliances can prove hazardous:

- ceiling fans

- hot burners on stovetops

- open ovens

- toasters

- coffee pots

- tea kettles

- boiling water

- hot cooking oil

8. Keep your bird away from potentially toxic kitchen plants

Some of these include:

- aloe (Aloe vera)

- avocados

- Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)

- cyclamen species

- dieffenbachia species

- English ivy (Hedera helix)

- ficus species

- kalanchoe species

- madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)

- philodendron species

- pothos or devil's ivy (Epipremnum aureus)

- schefflera species

- snake plant (Sansevieria trifiscata)

- tomato leaves and stems (green parts)

- potato leaves and stems (green parts)

- rhubarb leaves

Source: ASPCA